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Creed by Leaver, Trisha, Currie, Lindsay (2014) Paperback
Three went in. Three came out. None even a shadow of who they once were.When their car breaks down, Dee, her boyfriend Luke, and his brother Mike walk through a winter storm to take refuge in a nearby town called Purity Springs. When they arrive, the emergency sirens are blaring and the small farming town seems abandoned. With no other shelter, they spend the night in an empty house.But they soon discover that not everything in Purity Springs is as it seems. When the town's inhabitants suddenly appear the next morning, Dee, Luke, and Mike find themselves at the mercy of the charismatic leader, Elijah Hawkins, who plans to make Dee his new wife. Elijah's son, Joseph, offers to help them escape . . . but the price of his help may be more than Dee and her friends can bear.
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First published November 1, 2014
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About the author
Trisha Leaver
9 books331 followersTrisha Leaver lives on Cape Cod with her husband, three children, and one rather disobedient black lab. She is a chronic daydreamer who prefers the cozy confines of her own imagination to the mundane routine of everyday life. She writes Young Adult Contemporary Fiction, Psychological Horror and Science Fiction and is published with FSG/ Macmillan, Flux/Llewellyn and Merit Press. To find out more about her, please visit her website at www.trishaleaver.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
October 7, 2014
Cheap B-movie horror thrills abound!
I really think that anyone who has ever watched a bad horror flick will recognise the framework of this story instantly. I'm not even sure why these tropes are so damn universal in the horror genre, because they're just not scary anymore. If they ever were.
So there's three teens. Two of them are boyfriend and girlfriend (Dee and Luke) and can't keep their damn horny hands off each other. The other is a tag-along (Mike). Why is this so common, by the way? I've seen so many horror movies featuring a couple, and then a male or female third wheel just there for - seemingly - kicks.
And why are they always so horny? I'm serious. There have been essays written about old horror movies, claiming that they're actually really puritanical and attempt to teach teens what happens when you screw around before marriage. I've no idea if that's true, but it's a really common trope... teens who just want to go on a trip and get laid somehow end up trapped in a weird cult or hanging from a meat hook in some lunatic's basement.
Plus, they are so stupid. I'm sure you remember how it goes. They're camping in the middle of the woods or alone in a cabin in the middle of nowhere and suddenly there's a noise - maybe a scream or footsteps - coming from outside. It's always during the night and the damn stupid fools always have to investigate RIGHT THEN. In the middle of the night. Often barefoot and in their pajamas (though, okay, not in this case).
In this case the teens don't quite walk out in the middle of the woods. Nope. They take a shortcut down a back road.
And get lost.
And then they run out of gas.
Shit... you just KNOW what's going to happen next, don't you?
They're stranded in the middle of psychoville, AKA a "deserted" town where all the houses are identical down to the garden arrangements. Upon arrival in this town, they hole up in one of these deserted houses and find disturbing documents listing the town's population. A population that is decreasing rapidly. So, of course, they stay the night.
The next morning they meet Joseph who tells them about his father's evil cult and, though he seems more than a bit strange, they decide to follow him in the hopes of escaping. What could possibly go wrong?
Well... Elijah shows up, Dee gets captured and separated from Luke and Mike, and her day only gets worse from there. She is tied up, drugged and threatened with death unless she join the cult and comply with Elijah's wishes. The biggest crime of this story is that it feels like nothing new. I feel like I've seen this story and these characters in a hundred other horror films and books. Dee's narrative wasn't standout enough to make me want to care about her fate and everything felt more than a little cheesy.
Elijah especially felt like a cartoon villain with over-the-top mindless evil schemes. I kept picturing him with his finger poised near his mouth, laughing evilly.
I'm actually more disappointed because the author's 2015 novel sounds amazing and I love the cover. Maybe I'll try Leaver's work again when she's writing in a different genre.
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I really think that anyone who has ever watched a bad horror flick will recognise the framework of this story instantly. I'm not even sure why these tropes are so damn universal in the horror genre, because they're just not scary anymore. If they ever were.
So there's three teens. Two of them are boyfriend and girlfriend (Dee and Luke) and can't keep their damn horny hands off each other. The other is a tag-along (Mike). Why is this so common, by the way? I've seen so many horror movies featuring a couple, and then a male or female third wheel just there for - seemingly - kicks.
And why are they always so horny? I'm serious. There have been essays written about old horror movies, claiming that they're actually really puritanical and attempt to teach teens what happens when you screw around before marriage. I've no idea if that's true, but it's a really common trope... teens who just want to go on a trip and get laid somehow end up trapped in a weird cult or hanging from a meat hook in some lunatic's basement.
Plus, they are so stupid. I'm sure you remember how it goes. They're camping in the middle of the woods or alone in a cabin in the middle of nowhere and suddenly there's a noise - maybe a scream or footsteps - coming from outside. It's always during the night and the damn stupid fools always have to investigate RIGHT THEN. In the middle of the night. Often barefoot and in their pajamas (though, okay, not in this case).
In this case the teens don't quite walk out in the middle of the woods. Nope. They take a shortcut down a back road.
And get lost.
And then they run out of gas.
Shit... you just KNOW what's going to happen next, don't you?
They're stranded in the middle of psychoville, AKA a "deserted" town where all the houses are identical down to the garden arrangements. Upon arrival in this town, they hole up in one of these deserted houses and find disturbing documents listing the town's population. A population that is decreasing rapidly. So, of course, they stay the night.
The next morning they meet Joseph who tells them about his father's evil cult and, though he seems more than a bit strange, they decide to follow him in the hopes of escaping. What could possibly go wrong?
Well... Elijah shows up, Dee gets captured and separated from Luke and Mike, and her day only gets worse from there. She is tied up, drugged and threatened with death unless she join the cult and comply with Elijah's wishes. The biggest crime of this story is that it feels like nothing new. I feel like I've seen this story and these characters in a hundred other horror films and books. Dee's narrative wasn't standout enough to make me want to care about her fate and everything felt more than a little cheesy.
Elijah especially felt like a cartoon villain with over-the-top mindless evil schemes. I kept picturing him with his finger poised near his mouth, laughing evilly.
I'm actually more disappointed because the author's 2015 novel sounds amazing and I love the cover. Maybe I'll try Leaver's work again when she's writing in a different genre.
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April 15, 2015
This book was a mix of creepy and heart breaking!
I am in shock at the excellence of the stories idea and the uniqueness of the novel. THIS BOOK HAS CREEPED ME OUT TO A POINT WHERE I DONT EVEN WANT TO GO TO NEW TOWNS ANY MORE INCASE THEY TURN OUT TO BE RUN BY CREEPY, EVIL PEOPLE!
This book has left me thinking so much about it, I loved the read.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
I am in shock at the excellence of the stories idea and the uniqueness of the novel. THIS BOOK HAS CREEPED ME OUT TO A POINT WHERE I DONT EVEN WANT TO GO TO NEW TOWNS ANY MORE INCASE THEY TURN OUT TO BE RUN BY CREEPY, EVIL PEOPLE!
This book has left me thinking so much about it, I loved the read.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
November 13, 2014
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
3.5 Stars
Dee has planned an amazing weekend anniversary getaway with her boyfriend Luke (and, unfortunately, also his brother Mike who has to tag-along in order to keep Luke’s parents from getting suspicious). When their car runs out of gas, the concert becomes their last concern. Instead, the three find themselves stranded on a back road . . .
“Now all we needed was a skinny, pale girl in a bikini, a big guy in a mask sporting a chainsaw, and a sheriff turned zombie and we had the makings for a perfect horror movie.”
Realizing they have about a snowball’s chance in Hades of someone discovering them before they freeze to death in the frigid confines of the truck, the trio sets off toward the town lights they can see in the distance. There they discover . . . well, nothing. No open businesses, no traffic, no people to be seen at all. The only thing indicating anyone was ever there is the blaring emergency siren.
After spending the night in an abandoned house Dee, Luke, and Mike are discovered by a local – a teenaged boy who tells them if they want to make it out of town alive they better follow him. He leads them not down the empty streets, but rather through the nearby fields.
You all know what happens when you go through the crops in a scary story right???? Oh you don’t? Well, it’s general stuff like this . . .
or this . . .
Right. And let me tell you the threesome has no idea what’s in store for them once they meet the town’s leader.
“I knew what to do if the man with razors on his hands attacked me in my dreams. I could tell you which way to run if an awkward kid rose from the lake, fully grown and wearing a hockey mask. I was even prepared to get off the damn plane when seven random kids from some stupid French class went nuts over the fear of it crashing. But I had no idea what to do when faced with a self-proclaimed prophet and his entire batshit town.”
^^^^Awesome quote is awesome
I asked for an ARC of Creed (and was promptly denied, thank you very little NetGalley) a loooooooong time ago. This book stayed on my radar because it was being marketed as a “Young Adult Horror” – a genre which I feel has been done pretty terribly so far, so I marked the release date on my calendar and figured I’d forget about it until the reminder popped up. And then I saw something strange on my Facebook. Someone I went to high school with posted a status update about her upcoming book . . . Creed. First thoughts? "Oh shit. This person either knows or will soon figure out that my hobby is reviewing books and there’s always the potential of me hating her product." Buuuuuuut, I’m nothing if not brutally honest and since Creed had been on my radar for a good 6 months before its actual release I had to read it.
Luckily for me, it didn’t suck. The duo of Leaver and Currie definitely have some writing chops and Creed was a fine debut. The development of the creepy atmosphere was intense and although the characters may be considered “stereotypical” for horror story standards (i.e., the taking the backroads that ensure there will be no cell phone signal and the running out of gas), they were believable. Because Creed is geared toward young adults, I also thought it pushed some “no-no zone areas” awesomely (dealing with a potential religious cult and the gore factor in general). Sidenote: For grown-ups reading this story, you might have to remind yourself that you are not the target audience for this book. If you’re expecting an over-the-top slasher type of horror like The Hills Have Eyes or Wolf Creek you’re going to be disappointed. Leaver and Currie (and other YA Scream Queens) are bending the boundaries of YA Horror, they’re not trying to completely break them. As an old lady, I found Creed to be less of a horror and more of a quality suspense story. I also thought the only hope for any escape might be something like this . . .
3.5 Stars
Dee has planned an amazing weekend anniversary getaway with her boyfriend Luke (and, unfortunately, also his brother Mike who has to tag-along in order to keep Luke’s parents from getting suspicious). When their car runs out of gas, the concert becomes their last concern. Instead, the three find themselves stranded on a back road . . .
“Now all we needed was a skinny, pale girl in a bikini, a big guy in a mask sporting a chainsaw, and a sheriff turned zombie and we had the makings for a perfect horror movie.”
Realizing they have about a snowball’s chance in Hades of someone discovering them before they freeze to death in the frigid confines of the truck, the trio sets off toward the town lights they can see in the distance. There they discover . . . well, nothing. No open businesses, no traffic, no people to be seen at all. The only thing indicating anyone was ever there is the blaring emergency siren.
After spending the night in an abandoned house Dee, Luke, and Mike are discovered by a local – a teenaged boy who tells them if they want to make it out of town alive they better follow him. He leads them not down the empty streets, but rather through the nearby fields.
You all know what happens when you go through the crops in a scary story right???? Oh you don’t? Well, it’s general stuff like this . . .
or this . . .
Right. And let me tell you the threesome has no idea what’s in store for them once they meet the town’s leader.
“I knew what to do if the man with razors on his hands attacked me in my dreams. I could tell you which way to run if an awkward kid rose from the lake, fully grown and wearing a hockey mask. I was even prepared to get off the damn plane when seven random kids from some stupid French class went nuts over the fear of it crashing. But I had no idea what to do when faced with a self-proclaimed prophet and his entire batshit town.”
^^^^Awesome quote is awesome
I asked for an ARC of Creed (and was promptly denied, thank you very little NetGalley) a loooooooong time ago. This book stayed on my radar because it was being marketed as a “Young Adult Horror” – a genre which I feel has been done pretty terribly so far, so I marked the release date on my calendar and figured I’d forget about it until the reminder popped up. And then I saw something strange on my Facebook. Someone I went to high school with posted a status update about her upcoming book . . . Creed. First thoughts? "Oh shit. This person either knows or will soon figure out that my hobby is reviewing books and there’s always the potential of me hating her product." Buuuuuuut, I’m nothing if not brutally honest and since Creed had been on my radar for a good 6 months before its actual release I had to read it.
Luckily for me, it didn’t suck. The duo of Leaver and Currie definitely have some writing chops and Creed was a fine debut. The development of the creepy atmosphere was intense and although the characters may be considered “stereotypical” for horror story standards (i.e., the taking the backroads that ensure there will be no cell phone signal and the running out of gas), they were believable. Because Creed is geared toward young adults, I also thought it pushed some “no-no zone areas” awesomely (dealing with a potential religious cult and the gore factor in general). Sidenote: For grown-ups reading this story, you might have to remind yourself that you are not the target audience for this book. If you’re expecting an over-the-top slasher type of horror like The Hills Have Eyes or Wolf Creek you’re going to be disappointed. Leaver and Currie (and other YA Scream Queens) are bending the boundaries of YA Horror, they’re not trying to completely break them. As an old lady, I found Creed to be less of a horror and more of a quality suspense story. I also thought the only hope for any escape might be something like this . . .
July 3, 2014
Unnecessarily gore, inconsistently written and almost offensively stupid at times, Creed turned out to be a huge let down for me. This book had so much potential - the creepy setting, the disturbing secrets and the twisted mind of the *bad guy* - but almost non of it was realized. Filled with cheap B-class horror thrills and shockers, it's merely a somewhat entertaining trip to a very disturbed, freaky little town, and just like the characters, I just couldn't wait to get out of there.
I won't lie, I had really high hopes for this novel. And the beginning really was quite masterful, with the atmospheric setting and the mystery behind the creepy little town, but the farther I read, the less I liked it, and the more I got to know the characters, the less I cared about their fates. I loved the premise of this book - three teenagers running out of gas in their car and, as a result of that, getting stuck in a weird town in a middle of nowhere. Right from the beginning, you can tell something is very off. The town is empty; not a single soul in sight. The emergency siren is blasting, adding to the disquieting atmosphere. And then a creepy kid shows up and starts talking about danger, running away before it's too late and making sure "he" doesn't find them, because if "he" does... well, they're in big trouble. Up until this point, I was really enjoying the ride.
This could have been a solid horror/thriller, if only it wasn't so paper thin and lacking substance. Even the characters could have been forgiven their never ending stream of poor and irrational decisions, if only they possessed some qualities that would make them relatable or, at the very least, likeable. But in the end, this book just didn't do it for me. I didn't care about the characters and what would happen to them. I didn't like where the story went and how it all ended. And while I appreciated the disquieting atmosphere of the first couple chapters, the moment coockoo-crazy Elijah shows up and what could be a really bone-chilling thriller turns into a generic, completely predictable horror flick, Creed goes off the cliff for me.
Throughout this entire novel, there's not a single thing to really capture the reader's attention, nothing to emotionally engage them in the characters and their story. Even Dee's tragic past isn't enough to make us sympathize with her, not to mention that it's completely irrelevant to the plot itself. She's a difficult character to follow, mainly because she's either completely disconnected from reality, or too overwhelmed by the things happening to and around her. And, for someone who experienced some pretty horrible things in life, her willingness to let others go through even worse just to save her own skin, is disgusting. I get scarred. I get damaged. I get broken inside and fearful. But I don't get selfish, cold and indifferent to other people's suffering.
On top of all that, some plot developments are just completely baffling to me. Say, Joseph's behavior all throughout the novel. I can't discuss it in detail without spoiling the plot line, but let's just say I don't think I ever rolled my eyes this many times while reading a novel. And I believe even the most avid horror junkies would have a hard time not rolling their eyes at the randomness and blandness of it all.
I would recommend this book to people who are looking for a quick, disturbing horror flick to keep them entertained on those long, late-autumn evenings. And only if you're craving something that does not require too much commitment, nor the use of your brain muscle.
I won't lie, I had really high hopes for this novel. And the beginning really was quite masterful, with the atmospheric setting and the mystery behind the creepy little town, but the farther I read, the less I liked it, and the more I got to know the characters, the less I cared about their fates. I loved the premise of this book - three teenagers running out of gas in their car and, as a result of that, getting stuck in a weird town in a middle of nowhere. Right from the beginning, you can tell something is very off. The town is empty; not a single soul in sight. The emergency siren is blasting, adding to the disquieting atmosphere. And then a creepy kid shows up and starts talking about danger, running away before it's too late and making sure "he" doesn't find them, because if "he" does... well, they're in big trouble. Up until this point, I was really enjoying the ride.
This could have been a solid horror/thriller, if only it wasn't so paper thin and lacking substance. Even the characters could have been forgiven their never ending stream of poor and irrational decisions, if only they possessed some qualities that would make them relatable or, at the very least, likeable. But in the end, this book just didn't do it for me. I didn't care about the characters and what would happen to them. I didn't like where the story went and how it all ended. And while I appreciated the disquieting atmosphere of the first couple chapters, the moment coockoo-crazy Elijah shows up and what could be a really bone-chilling thriller turns into a generic, completely predictable horror flick, Creed goes off the cliff for me.
Throughout this entire novel, there's not a single thing to really capture the reader's attention, nothing to emotionally engage them in the characters and their story. Even Dee's tragic past isn't enough to make us sympathize with her, not to mention that it's completely irrelevant to the plot itself. She's a difficult character to follow, mainly because she's either completely disconnected from reality, or too overwhelmed by the things happening to and around her. And, for someone who experienced some pretty horrible things in life, her willingness to let others go through even worse just to save her own skin, is disgusting. I get scarred. I get damaged. I get broken inside and fearful. But I don't get selfish, cold and indifferent to other people's suffering.
On top of all that, some plot developments are just completely baffling to me. Say, Joseph's behavior all throughout the novel. I can't discuss it in detail without spoiling the plot line, but let's just say I don't think I ever rolled my eyes this many times while reading a novel. And I believe even the most avid horror junkies would have a hard time not rolling their eyes at the randomness and blandness of it all.
I would recommend this book to people who are looking for a quick, disturbing horror flick to keep them entertained on those long, late-autumn evenings. And only if you're craving something that does not require too much commitment, nor the use of your brain muscle.
Read
August 6, 2014There are few things I love as much as a truly creepy story. When I was in high school, I went on a rampage, trying to discover a horror movie that would keep me up at night. I pretty much failed.
I did, however, avoid Arachnaphobia, which I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt would keep me up for the rest of my life. And, most likely, lead to a psychotic break. Spiders and I? Not really friends.
Anyhow, I love a good horror story. And I love a horror story that aims for more than cheap screams. Which is why I love Creed.*
I’m going to pause here and tell you that I wasn’t up all night with fear. (It is safe to assume the story is spider free.) I don’t get frightened like that—though I could see how more sensitive readers may need to sleep with a nightlight after flipping these pages—but I do get creeped out. And the town that Lindsay Currie and Trisha Leaver have created is disturbing in a Children of the Corn sort of way.
The action starts immediately—three teens break down in the middle of nowhere—and doesn’t quit, though Leaver and Currie expertly set an eerie, unhurried mood over an otherwise fast-paced novel.
That mood is one of my favorite things about the book (the second being Mike, but more on him later). When the trio happen upon Purity Springs, all closed-up, silent, and still, the feeling of not-rightness is so well done that it’s easy to feel the chill in the snowy air and a chill from the strangeness of the town. It's a feeling that doesn't let go throughout the rest of the novel—the equivalent of icy ghost fingers trailing down your spine.
Just as well-crafted as the world are the characters: straight-shooting Dee, her super-smart and loveable boyfriend Luke, and his argumentative brother Mike. The relationship between Luke and Dee is sweet. The one between the brothers is complicated, and the way their relationship changes throughout the story is compelling.
While I love each of the main characters—and especially how we slowly learn about Dee’s past as the story unfolds—I can’t help but love Mike even more. He’s impulsive and combative. But he's also hilarious at times. He's tough on the outside, but then he's also just a teenage boy in danger.
And then there’s Joseph. Mysterious Joseph. Neither the characters nor we know his motives for most of the book, which I worried would leave him wavering between a flat villain and a cardboard do-gooder. But he’s such a rich character that I found myself swinging between an intense desire to wrap him in a hug and an urge to lock him up somewhere and throw away the key. He’s more complex than his father, but even cult leader Elijah is more than just The Bad Guy. He's creepy in a very understated way.
The story is tense, and Currie and Leave are not afraid to make their characters suffer—and that’s all I’ll say about that because I wouldn’t want to spoil it for you. But I believe my exact words, during a particularly intense scene were, “This is horrifyingly good.”
*Hello. This is a disclaimer. The authors of Creed are my friends and critique partners. That said, I believe this review is unbiased.
I did, however, avoid Arachnaphobia, which I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt would keep me up for the rest of my life. And, most likely, lead to a psychotic break. Spiders and I? Not really friends.
Anyhow, I love a good horror story. And I love a horror story that aims for more than cheap screams. Which is why I love Creed.*
I’m going to pause here and tell you that I wasn’t up all night with fear. (It is safe to assume the story is spider free.) I don’t get frightened like that—though I could see how more sensitive readers may need to sleep with a nightlight after flipping these pages—but I do get creeped out. And the town that Lindsay Currie and Trisha Leaver have created is disturbing in a Children of the Corn sort of way.
The action starts immediately—three teens break down in the middle of nowhere—and doesn’t quit, though Leaver and Currie expertly set an eerie, unhurried mood over an otherwise fast-paced novel.
That mood is one of my favorite things about the book (the second being Mike, but more on him later). When the trio happen upon Purity Springs, all closed-up, silent, and still, the feeling of not-rightness is so well done that it’s easy to feel the chill in the snowy air and a chill from the strangeness of the town. It's a feeling that doesn't let go throughout the rest of the novel—the equivalent of icy ghost fingers trailing down your spine.
Just as well-crafted as the world are the characters: straight-shooting Dee, her super-smart and loveable boyfriend Luke, and his argumentative brother Mike. The relationship between Luke and Dee is sweet. The one between the brothers is complicated, and the way their relationship changes throughout the story is compelling.
While I love each of the main characters—and especially how we slowly learn about Dee’s past as the story unfolds—I can’t help but love Mike even more. He’s impulsive and combative. But he's also hilarious at times. He's tough on the outside, but then he's also just a teenage boy in danger.
And then there’s Joseph. Mysterious Joseph. Neither the characters nor we know his motives for most of the book, which I worried would leave him wavering between a flat villain and a cardboard do-gooder. But he’s such a rich character that I found myself swinging between an intense desire to wrap him in a hug and an urge to lock him up somewhere and throw away the key. He’s more complex than his father, but even cult leader Elijah is more than just The Bad Guy. He's creepy in a very understated way.
The story is tense, and Currie and Leave are not afraid to make their characters suffer—and that’s all I’ll say about that because I wouldn’t want to spoil it for you. But I believe my exact words, during a particularly intense scene were, “This is horrifyingly good.”
*Hello. This is a disclaimer. The authors of Creed are my friends and critique partners. That said, I believe this review is unbiased.
October 22, 2014
The story is vaguely familiar, like a typical thriller movie. Three unsuspecting teenagers out on a weekend of fun stumble on a creepy town in the middle of nowhere... The weekend getaway turns into a hellish nightmare when these teens have to fight to stay alive.
The reaction I expected from myself:
My expression at the end:
I was squirming at the edge of my seat while I read this book. I knew it probably would end horribly because that's how the thrilling movie versions do, but I didn't expect to be frustrated and tearful. Ughhhh!!! Was that it?! Seriously? I feel like hitting something!
If you like cult thrillers, cold blooded deaths, and feelings of intense frustration then this is the book for you! I highly recommend it.
The reaction I expected from myself:
My expression at the end:
I was squirming at the edge of my seat while I read this book. I knew it probably would end horribly because that's how the thrilling movie versions do, but I didn't expect to be frustrated and tearful. Ughhhh!!! Was that it?! Seriously? I feel like hitting something!
If you like cult thrillers, cold blooded deaths, and feelings of intense frustration then this is the book for you! I highly recommend it.
April 3, 2013
This book is creepy, atmospheric, and intense. Plus, the writing is just GREAT! I would not want to be left in a room alone with Elijah Hawkins! *shivers* It has something for everyone--horror, romance, suspense! Plain awesome!
June 22, 2014
Creed is one of the most thoroughly disturbing and horrifying books I've ever read. It is infuriating, unfair, visceral, and just really freaking bloody awful. The atmosphere is so thick, I was drowning in it right alongside the characters. The tension throughout the novel was so taut, I often had to put the book down because it felt like too much. This book is an utterly uncomfortable and very unpleasant experience, which means that the book achieved exactly what it set out to do. I would classify this as a horror novel, but it is not the type that pushed on the reader macabre scenes or hideous monsters for the sake of cheap thrills or scares. No, this novel is creepy and disturbing and relies more on its atmosphere and eeriness than violence and a bad guy, though there's plenty of everything.
Not much can be said about Creed without spoiling it, but I feel the need to reiterate time and time again how profoundly upsetting and unsettling this novel is. I'm sure we've all seen a movie like this at one time or another, and even if it disturbs us, the lights come on in the theater, you get up from your seat and leave the experience behind. Personally, I'd never read a book that so closely resembled the feeling of watching one of those horrifying thrillers at the theater, except that this novel's effect is about a million times worse and its effect has lingered for weeks. I don't think this would be the type of book to keep you up all night, staring in fear at the shadows, but this book does have a pretty powerful effect, which can go either way for the reader: begrudged love or absolute hate.
This novel makes you feel claustrophobic and powerless by virtue of how horribly it treats its characters. I don't know if I'm impressed by how committed the authors were to their story and the effect they wanted it to have, or if I'm horrified at what they did, because this book is very rough to read, not in the same that it's boring because it's actually fast-paced and fairly quick to read, but it's hard to plow through because of the severity of events that take place in it. It has a few turns I never saw coming, not like surprising twists in the mystery of the plot but like a couple or surprising events that were risky, but powerful in the narrative.
The characters were not exactly deeply characterized and there was one in particular who was never given any space to come out of his stereotype, but they were all given enough issues to feel realistic enough and the bonds between them were strong, clearly defined and carried the entire emotional load of the novel. The main character, Dee, was a bit inconsistent in her characterization, but she was still a competent one that, in spite of passed traumas and what she faces in this novel, still fought all the way through. Elijah, the main antagonist, comes off a bit cartoonish at times, but he still managed to infuriate me and terrify me several times.
Truth be told, I don't think I would ever recommend Creed unless somebody came along and asked for a book specifically like this one. This is not an enjoyable book, but rather one that you must survive. It plays with your emotions mercilessly, makes you feel trapped and powerless and then leaves a dirty feeling all over your skin, so if that's what you are looking for, you found it. Under any other circumstances, I think this book would be a 3 star for me because the writing stumbled a bit a couple of times, but the atmosphere of this novel was so fantastic, the whole feel of the novel so well-crafted, I it deserves the 4 stars. If you decide to read it, good luck to you, my friend.
Not much can be said about Creed without spoiling it, but I feel the need to reiterate time and time again how profoundly upsetting and unsettling this novel is. I'm sure we've all seen a movie like this at one time or another, and even if it disturbs us, the lights come on in the theater, you get up from your seat and leave the experience behind. Personally, I'd never read a book that so closely resembled the feeling of watching one of those horrifying thrillers at the theater, except that this novel's effect is about a million times worse and its effect has lingered for weeks. I don't think this would be the type of book to keep you up all night, staring in fear at the shadows, but this book does have a pretty powerful effect, which can go either way for the reader: begrudged love or absolute hate.
This novel makes you feel claustrophobic and powerless by virtue of how horribly it treats its characters. I don't know if I'm impressed by how committed the authors were to their story and the effect they wanted it to have, or if I'm horrified at what they did, because this book is very rough to read, not in the same that it's boring because it's actually fast-paced and fairly quick to read, but it's hard to plow through because of the severity of events that take place in it. It has a few turns I never saw coming, not like surprising twists in the mystery of the plot but like a couple or surprising events that were risky, but powerful in the narrative.
The characters were not exactly deeply characterized and there was one in particular who was never given any space to come out of his stereotype, but they were all given enough issues to feel realistic enough and the bonds between them were strong, clearly defined and carried the entire emotional load of the novel. The main character, Dee, was a bit inconsistent in her characterization, but she was still a competent one that, in spite of passed traumas and what she faces in this novel, still fought all the way through. Elijah, the main antagonist, comes off a bit cartoonish at times, but he still managed to infuriate me and terrify me several times.
Truth be told, I don't think I would ever recommend Creed unless somebody came along and asked for a book specifically like this one. This is not an enjoyable book, but rather one that you must survive. It plays with your emotions mercilessly, makes you feel trapped and powerless and then leaves a dirty feeling all over your skin, so if that's what you are looking for, you found it. Under any other circumstances, I think this book would be a 3 star for me because the writing stumbled a bit a couple of times, but the atmosphere of this novel was so fantastic, the whole feel of the novel so well-crafted, I it deserves the 4 stars. If you decide to read it, good luck to you, my friend.
October 29, 2015
WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT. I can't even tell how betrayed I feel right now ... definitely a waste of time. I expected this to be a creepy, kinda scary read with a great plot and good characters ... that's definitely not what I got. I don't even know how people can shelf this as "horror" because honestly? There was NOTHING horror-like here, instead I was bored to death and couldn't wait to finish this as soon as possible.
Not everything was bad, okay. The first few chapters were actually quite promising ... the atmosphere the authors created COULD HAVE been creepy, if they wouldn't have destroyed everything in the following chapters. When I read the synopsis I couldn't help but think of Silent Hill, you know with a deserted town and sirens going off ... well, that would've been awesome! But Creed was nothing like that - too many information about a town that didn't even interest me, the weirdest "villain" I've ever read about and characters I couldn't care less about if I tried.
The authors tried to make us feel connected to or at least sympathize with the main character, Dee, through her terrible past but to be honest she mostly annoyed me. I didn't feel sorry for her or anyone else in this town. The other two guys, Mike and Luke, with which she got into town weren't present for the most part of the book and didn't seem important, so towards the end I just thought: Whatever. I don't care.
The whole plot was so ridiculous and weird. I had a hard time "accepting" all of this ... I mean, ugh. I don't want to spoiler anything, in case someone still wants to read this but it was just stupid and didn't make any sense - that's at least how I see it. Or maybe it was just not my thing, I don't know.
So, what's my conclusion? I wouldn't recommend it. In my opinion, it's not worth anyone's time and I would rather pick one of the hundred other books on my TBR than this one.
www.aworldbetweenfoldedpages.blogspot.com
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October 11:
Yeaaaah ... well. That really wasn't my thing. So different to what I expected or hoped for but nope. It was ridiculous and weird, not scary/creepy at all. Sadly.
January 1, 2015
I admit, I was sucked in by this book's creepy cover. Combining that with a well-trod but still promising premise, I had high hopes for this book. Sadly, it doesn't deliver.
It should be mentioned that I read this book in the dark, huddled up to my sleeping hubby. So I was fully ready for this book to scare the crap out of me. And for the first few chapters, the tension is killer. We find ourselves in Silent Hill territory, complete with a deserted town in the middle of nowhere.
Once it becomes clear what's going on, though, all that tension is lost. I almost WISH the authors had gone the supernatural route--the fact that our antagonist is a cartoonishly evil cult leader with no redeeming qualities at all actually had me rolling my eyes. The only character who's remotely fleshed out is our main character, and even then, her backstory rarely matters to the plot.
This book could have been a chance to explore the darkness of domestic abuse, and the impact it has on survivors. Honestly, I kind of expected the book would go that route, since it repeatedly hints that our main character, Dee, was abused by her father. Yet we never see any real reflection of this in her behavior.
Also, don't even get me started started in the death of a major character OFF SCREEN. Who the heck thought that was a good idea? Their death has absolutely no impact, because all the other characters are wailing and gnashing their teeth, and the reader just keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop.
In short, thanks to inconsistent writing and cardboard cutout characters, I can't really recommend this book to anyone.
It should be mentioned that I read this book in the dark, huddled up to my sleeping hubby. So I was fully ready for this book to scare the crap out of me. And for the first few chapters, the tension is killer. We find ourselves in Silent Hill territory, complete with a deserted town in the middle of nowhere.
Once it becomes clear what's going on, though, all that tension is lost. I almost WISH the authors had gone the supernatural route--the fact that our antagonist is a cartoonishly evil cult leader with no redeeming qualities at all actually had me rolling my eyes. The only character who's remotely fleshed out is our main character, and even then, her backstory rarely matters to the plot.
This book could have been a chance to explore the darkness of domestic abuse, and the impact it has on survivors. Honestly, I kind of expected the book would go that route, since it repeatedly hints that our main character, Dee, was abused by her father. Yet we never see any real reflection of this in her behavior.
Also, don't even get me started started in the death of a major character OFF SCREEN. Who the heck thought that was a good idea? Their death has absolutely no impact, because all the other characters are wailing and gnashing their teeth, and the reader just keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop.
In short, thanks to inconsistent writing and cardboard cutout characters, I can't really recommend this book to anyone.
August 10, 2014
Wow this book was creepy! I made the mistake of starting this book whilst alone in a very silent room. Ten minutes into it and I had to stop reading. I picked it back up today and omg I had to keep reading. The book itself is well written and the characters are brilliant. The main character Dee is tormented by an abusive past and the town leader Elijah...let's just say that man is a twisted SOB. The teens just want to escape the town but two plot twists later and I was in utter disbelief! I would definitely recommend this book, 15+ though. (Advanced copy from NetGalley :))
April 1, 2017
Elijah Hawkins needs to die. Slowly. Painfully. Tortured until his pleads for mercy only serve to fuel my inner demon. Needless to say, I am not a fan of the man, which is why he was so perfectly written.
When I started reading CREED by Trisha Leaver and Lindsay Currie, I was expecting to hide under the covers – that it would be totally terrifying, but I didn’t find it scary. Instead I found it ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, RAGE-INDUCING! I burned through the novel in a matter of hours on a Sunday afternoon, unable to put the sucker down because I was begging, PLEADING, for Elijah to D-I-E. Now, I’m not going to say if the pervert meets his fork-tailed maker or not, BUT it was the driving force behind my reading obsession. I wanted justice and I wanted him stoned into mush.
The story starts out with three friends (Dee, her boyfriend Luke, and his younger brother, Mike) on the road to a concert in East-of-Nowhere New York when they run out of gas on an abandoned stretch of highway. They spot lights in the distance, and with ice coating the roads and hypothermia knocking on the windows, they decide to investigate the town. Bad idea – didn’t these kids see Cujo?? DON’T LEAVE THE DAMN CAR! It all turns into a real-life Hell, with cult leader Elijah Hawkins filling his role perfectly as the violence-in-the-name-of-god character. His horrifically abused son, Joseph, is also wandering the town with his own agenda.
The characters in this book are what make the story. Hands down, Luke was my favorite (damn you Leaver and Currie!!). His brother Mike is a great, unlikely hero. I loved the brothers and fell for them both quickly. Joseph is brilliantly drawn as a survivor of his father’s wrath, but the reader never knows if he is actually a good guy or a player, and I love that. His broken but tough soul made me want to root for him, but then I questioned his motives constantly.
Elijah – well, I covered my thoughts on him, but Dee, the voice of the story, really needed to die. She was a cool character until Elijah showed up and for some reason she didn't kick his butt. I kept screaming at her to fight back, beat the piss out of Elijah. Stab him, claw his face off – ANYTHING! I was hoping she would go after him and die in a way fitting of Pulp Fiction, taking Elijah down with her. Seriously . . . if I ever meet her on the street, I may push her out into traffic because she didn't go down "guns blazing."
This book is like a train wreck in that you can’t peel your eyes from the carnage even though you know the outcome ain’t gonna be pretty. Which is why it works so flawlessly.
Leaver and Currie did not set out to write a happily-ever-after. They set out to make you totally loathe a character and scream at the pages, which is precisely what this story does.
CREED leaves you haunted . . . and in need of a punching bag. A big one.
I dare you to put it down. A lethal five-stars.
When I started reading CREED by Trisha Leaver and Lindsay Currie, I was expecting to hide under the covers – that it would be totally terrifying, but I didn’t find it scary. Instead I found it ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, RAGE-INDUCING! I burned through the novel in a matter of hours on a Sunday afternoon, unable to put the sucker down because I was begging, PLEADING, for Elijah to D-I-E. Now, I’m not going to say if the pervert meets his fork-tailed maker or not, BUT it was the driving force behind my reading obsession. I wanted justice and I wanted him stoned into mush.
The story starts out with three friends (Dee, her boyfriend Luke, and his younger brother, Mike) on the road to a concert in East-of-Nowhere New York when they run out of gas on an abandoned stretch of highway. They spot lights in the distance, and with ice coating the roads and hypothermia knocking on the windows, they decide to investigate the town. Bad idea – didn’t these kids see Cujo?? DON’T LEAVE THE DAMN CAR! It all turns into a real-life Hell, with cult leader Elijah Hawkins filling his role perfectly as the violence-in-the-name-of-god character. His horrifically abused son, Joseph, is also wandering the town with his own agenda.
The characters in this book are what make the story. Hands down, Luke was my favorite (damn you Leaver and Currie!!). His brother Mike is a great, unlikely hero. I loved the brothers and fell for them both quickly. Joseph is brilliantly drawn as a survivor of his father’s wrath, but the reader never knows if he is actually a good guy or a player, and I love that. His broken but tough soul made me want to root for him, but then I questioned his motives constantly.
Elijah – well, I covered my thoughts on him, but Dee, the voice of the story, really needed to die. She was a cool character until Elijah showed up and for some reason she didn't kick his butt. I kept screaming at her to fight back, beat the piss out of Elijah. Stab him, claw his face off – ANYTHING! I was hoping she would go after him and die in a way fitting of Pulp Fiction, taking Elijah down with her. Seriously . . . if I ever meet her on the street, I may push her out into traffic because she didn't go down "guns blazing."
This book is like a train wreck in that you can’t peel your eyes from the carnage even though you know the outcome ain’t gonna be pretty. Which is why it works so flawlessly.
Leaver and Currie did not set out to write a happily-ever-after. They set out to make you totally loathe a character and scream at the pages, which is precisely what this story does.
CREED leaves you haunted . . . and in need of a punching bag. A big one.
I dare you to put it down. A lethal five-stars.
September 30, 2014
I absolutely love a good horror story and as we all know, horror stories don’t always have to have things that go bump in the night. Creed by Trisha Leaver and Lindsey Currie delivers an ultimate horror story that used good old fashioned flesh and bone humans to scare the crap out of me.
Three teens set off to a concert when their car breaks down near Purity Springs, New York. What they find is an abandoned town with sirens going off. Hmmm …. Strange? Oh yes, this is just the beginning of the nightmare that is about to become their lives.
The characters, Dee, her boyfriend Luke and his younger brother Mike, make an amazing cast of characters. Dee and Luke have an amazing relationship for a couple so young but Dee is a foster child who comes with a strong history of abuse. Luke is very gentle and compassionate, despite being an aggressive football player. Mike, Luke’s younger brother, provides the much needed comic relief with his snarky humor and sarcastic comments. There are some other well developed characters that come into play, the town cult leader, Elijah Hawkins, who I tend to think of as ‘Psycho Freak from Hell’ and his son, Joseph.
Trisha and Lindsey really know how to set an atmosphere! There is a sense of eeriness that is present throughout Creed that just doesn’t go away. It sort of permeated my mood and stuck with me. I don’t want to say much more, to do so will spoil the actual premise of the story and I don’t want to do that!
What starts out to be the beginning of a fun weekend for the teens soon turns out to be the worst weekend of their lives. In light of keeping this as spoiler free as possible, I will say that there is some serious sick stuff that goes down, there is some serious heart-breaking moments and there is some serious what the hell moments. And that is what kept me turning pages! All. The. Way. To. The. End!
If you like horror with a little side of psycho, then Creed is for you. Trust me, you’ll think twice the next time you get stranded on the side of the road!
Three teens set off to a concert when their car breaks down near Purity Springs, New York. What they find is an abandoned town with sirens going off. Hmmm …. Strange? Oh yes, this is just the beginning of the nightmare that is about to become their lives.
The characters, Dee, her boyfriend Luke and his younger brother Mike, make an amazing cast of characters. Dee and Luke have an amazing relationship for a couple so young but Dee is a foster child who comes with a strong history of abuse. Luke is very gentle and compassionate, despite being an aggressive football player. Mike, Luke’s younger brother, provides the much needed comic relief with his snarky humor and sarcastic comments. There are some other well developed characters that come into play, the town cult leader, Elijah Hawkins, who I tend to think of as ‘Psycho Freak from Hell’ and his son, Joseph.
Trisha and Lindsey really know how to set an atmosphere! There is a sense of eeriness that is present throughout Creed that just doesn’t go away. It sort of permeated my mood and stuck with me. I don’t want to say much more, to do so will spoil the actual premise of the story and I don’t want to do that!
What starts out to be the beginning of a fun weekend for the teens soon turns out to be the worst weekend of their lives. In light of keeping this as spoiler free as possible, I will say that there is some serious sick stuff that goes down, there is some serious heart-breaking moments and there is some serious what the hell moments. And that is what kept me turning pages! All. The. Way. To. The. End!
If you like horror with a little side of psycho, then Creed is for you. Trust me, you’ll think twice the next time you get stranded on the side of the road!
September 23, 2015
I'm sure that if you've followed me for a while then you probably know that I'm a sucker for horror books. There's just something about the icky, creepy and gory that calls to me. Yes, I'm a freak. Anyway, when I saw Creed, I KNEW that I had to read it ASAP and I was lucky enough to get approved on Netgalley so once I downloaded it I immediately dove right in and Creed didn't disappoint.
Dee has her anniversary with her boyfriend Luke all planned out; she even enlisted Luke’s brother, Mike, in the scheme so that they would all have alibis for the weekend and wouldn’t be missed. But when their car breaks down in a winter storm, they tough it out and walk to a near town called Purity Springs. However, when they get there, it’s like a ghost town and there isn’t a phone in the whole town. Things get weirder from there and it doesn’t take long before they discover the eeriness that is Purity Springs, but by then, it may be too late.
This book had me hooked from the very beginning, Dee’s voice was so strong, I went through all of her emotions right along with her. She has been through so much in her short life and Luke was her everything. He brought her back from the brink and he kept her from sinking back down in her past. Luke was everything a book boyfriend should be; strong, charismatic, loyal and extremely caring.
The only thing I have to say about Elijah Hawkins is…he really needs to decide to quit breathing. I don’t think I can put into words how much I LOATHE him.
Overall, Creed is a wonderfully crafted, bone chilling psychological thriller that will leave you seething with hate for Elijah and concern for the ones that make it out of Purity Springs. I will warn you though, this book doesn't hold back on the on the bone chilling horror or gore, so if you’re looking for a happily ever after, then you should probably find something else, but if you want a thrill, then you should definitely give this one a go, you won’t be disappointed.
Dee has her anniversary with her boyfriend Luke all planned out; she even enlisted Luke’s brother, Mike, in the scheme so that they would all have alibis for the weekend and wouldn’t be missed. But when their car breaks down in a winter storm, they tough it out and walk to a near town called Purity Springs. However, when they get there, it’s like a ghost town and there isn’t a phone in the whole town. Things get weirder from there and it doesn’t take long before they discover the eeriness that is Purity Springs, but by then, it may be too late.
This book had me hooked from the very beginning, Dee’s voice was so strong, I went through all of her emotions right along with her. She has been through so much in her short life and Luke was her everything. He brought her back from the brink and he kept her from sinking back down in her past. Luke was everything a book boyfriend should be; strong, charismatic, loyal and extremely caring.
The only thing I have to say about Elijah Hawkins is…he really needs to decide to quit breathing. I don’t think I can put into words how much I LOATHE him.
Overall, Creed is a wonderfully crafted, bone chilling psychological thriller that will leave you seething with hate for Elijah and concern for the ones that make it out of Purity Springs. I will warn you though, this book doesn't hold back on the on the bone chilling horror or gore, so if you’re looking for a happily ever after, then you should probably find something else, but if you want a thrill, then you should definitely give this one a go, you won’t be disappointed.
December 16, 2015
This book was not even remotely frightening, at least for me, but it was definitely disturbing. After running out of gas in their car, three teenagers find themselves at Purity Springs (HA! I now understand the significance of the town name), an eerie little town that appears to be abandoned. With freezing cold temperatures, and hazardous, winter conditions, the three teens decide to take shelter in one of the homes. But, of course, their stupid curiosity convinces them to investigate this mysterious house by snooping through the drawers and closets. Awful, awful idea. By the time Dee, Luke, and Mike realize that Purity Springs is not an average, normal town, it is unfortunately too late.
The history and beliefs behind Purity Springs was really fascinating. Disturbing and a little psychotic, yes, but fascinating, nonetheless. The idea of a town run by a religiously twisted cult leader is disturbing enough, but the methods used by Elijah Hawkins to keep his town obedient was completely sinister and gruesome. . I would have loved for more interaction with the townsfolk besides Elijah and his children.
I don't want to say too much about the town of Purity Springs because I think going in with less information is best. But I will say that I absolutely loved the ending. It was mysterious, open-ended, and the perfect conclusion for a story filled with dark secrets.
The history and beliefs behind Purity Springs was really fascinating. Disturbing and a little psychotic, yes, but fascinating, nonetheless. The idea of a town run by a religiously twisted cult leader is disturbing enough, but the methods used by Elijah Hawkins to keep his town obedient was completely sinister and gruesome. . I would have loved for more interaction with the townsfolk besides Elijah and his children.
I don't want to say too much about the town of Purity Springs because I think going in with less information is best. But I will say that I absolutely loved the ending. It was mysterious, open-ended, and the perfect conclusion for a story filled with dark secrets.
December 7, 2014
I just read an advanced copy of CREED, and MAN....I don't think I'll ever sleep again! Creepy small towns, terrifying secrets locked away behind closed doors, religious cults with charismatic leaders...CREED has it all! Definitely pick this book up if you want to feel creeped out for days.
August 20, 2014
I'm utterly revolted with this book!! I cannot put into words how frustrating and messed up that ending was! Okay not just the ending. The whole book.
It's had never happened to me in the book. In "horror" movies sure, they always end this way. I've learned a long time a go to not expect a happy ending when it comes to these kinds of movies but reading a book that ends like this... Goddammit! It's so revolting!!
This was all very twisted. I really enjoyed most of the book. There was a part, when Dee is taken, that got a bit boring. Only having her POV slowed things down a bit but general the book was really good.. and sad and again very very frustrating.
It broke my heart when
That whole town is disgusting !!! The people are sick!! And it disgusts me even more that things ended up this way.
I'm about of my mind with the way things ended.
*** This title was kindly provided by Flux via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ***
It's had never happened to me in the book. In "horror" movies sure, they always end this way. I've learned a long time a go to not expect a happy ending when it comes to these kinds of movies but reading a book that ends like this... Goddammit! It's so revolting!!
This was all very twisted. I really enjoyed most of the book. There was a part, when Dee is taken, that got a bit boring. Only having her POV slowed things down a bit but general the book was really good.. and sad and again very very frustrating.
It broke my heart when
That whole town is disgusting !!! The people are sick!! And it disgusts me even more that things ended up this way.
I'm about of my mind with the way things ended.
*** This title was kindly provided by Flux via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ***
December 4, 2013
Leaver and Currie do an excellent job of creating tension in this thrilling read.
You'll root for the characters as they face dangers and trials, dark and deadly. You'll cry, and in the end, you'll long for more.
If you love thrillers and horror, you will love this book!
You'll root for the characters as they face dangers and trials, dark and deadly. You'll cry, and in the end, you'll long for more.
If you love thrillers and horror, you will love this book!
July 19, 2014
I could not put this down. One seriously messed up bad guy. Engrossing, page turning, and freaky. You will never want to drive through rural NY state ever again. An intense, awesome read for fear fiction fans.
March 13, 2014
Be ready for a killer read! I was a lucky beta-reader for this novel. This is a fast-paced, un-put-downable book that is seriously creeptastic. The characters and setting are so well-drawn, you'll forever question small towns and car trips.
February 27, 2016
This was so good during the first half. It is the ending that makes me feel so cheated. Review to come...
March 11, 2015
Psycho town. Psycho people. Cult! Not a religion. Very interesting story. Really held my attention.
October 27, 2014
Creed was many things, but I wouldn't call it horror. Suspenseful is the word for the opening chapters, while the rest played on the psychologically messed up. I didn't read the summary prior to going into the story because I didn't want any expectations only an open mind. And I must say I felt intrigued from start. Three teens on a road trip end up stranded and this weird town comes into view. The blaring alarm and emptiness stirred up my curiosity and I started to feel like I was reading a Stephen King novel. I thought maybe a mysterious entity passed through the town and took everyone with it. I mean, that would explain the emergency alarm, abandoned cars, vacant diner, and overall empty town. Not a soul in sight. So, Mike, Dee, and Luke, along with readers are taken on a ride of okay, what's going on here? Where is everybody?
I was spooked when they found the cemetery and the number of deaths, etc. But then when they went inside of the house and found those books and creepy stuff, I was like no, this is weird. They should just leave. But, leaving Purity Springs was hard because it was freezing out, not to mention snowing, and their car was dead. I wasn't expecting the story to take the turn that it did when they came in contact with Joseph. But after that, I wanted to see how they would get out of it.
Regarding the plot, I haven't read many books having to do with closed community and lunatic leaders after Gated, but I'm interested in reading more into the genre, so I didn't mind the route the story went into. My skin crawled at the intention that Elijah had for Dee, not to mention the rules he had about purifying people. Elijah was a grade A sicko and I actually wished they'd dealt with him the opposite of how they left him.
Character wise, I didn't really connect with any of them, but I did sympathize with Dee, having to go through such a turmoil before coming to Purity Springs, and close to facing it again. Also, when she found Luke, I felt her emotions, along with Mike's. Their reaction was just and real. I actually wanted to shed a tear with them.
Joseph rubbed me the wrong way from start. I never trusted him, and when I realized what he'd done, I disliked him even more and wanted to slap the hell out of him. He really messed with my emotions throughout the story because of the problem he'd placed them in, and then the fact that he didn't stick around at the end pissed me off even more.
Oh yes, the ending. That was my main issue. As angry as I was with Joseph throughout the story, I would have loved to know what happened to him, if he was brought back to Purity Springs, or if he took off before his father's people found him at the hospital. I also wish Elijah had paid for what he'd done, not only to Luke, Dee, and Mike, but also for everyone else he's inflicted suffering on throughout the years. I just feel that the ending didn't bring about a lot of clarity and I wouldn't mind a sequel. Regardless, with lucid writing and a creepy plot, Creed was an interesting read overall.
I was spooked when they found the cemetery and the number of deaths, etc. But then when they went inside of the house and found those books and creepy stuff, I was like no, this is weird. They should just leave. But, leaving Purity Springs was hard because it was freezing out, not to mention snowing, and their car was dead. I wasn't expecting the story to take the turn that it did when they came in contact with Joseph. But after that, I wanted to see how they would get out of it.
Regarding the plot, I haven't read many books having to do with closed community and lunatic leaders after Gated, but I'm interested in reading more into the genre, so I didn't mind the route the story went into. My skin crawled at the intention that Elijah had for Dee, not to mention the rules he had about purifying people. Elijah was a grade A sicko and I actually wished they'd dealt with him the opposite of how they left him.
Character wise, I didn't really connect with any of them, but I did sympathize with Dee, having to go through such a turmoil before coming to Purity Springs, and close to facing it again. Also, when she found Luke, I felt her emotions, along with Mike's. Their reaction was just and real. I actually wanted to shed a tear with them.
Joseph rubbed me the wrong way from start. I never trusted him, and when I realized what he'd done, I disliked him even more and wanted to slap the hell out of him. He really messed with my emotions throughout the story because of the problem he'd placed them in, and then the fact that he didn't stick around at the end pissed me off even more.
Oh yes, the ending. That was my main issue. As angry as I was with Joseph throughout the story, I would have loved to know what happened to him, if he was brought back to Purity Springs, or if he took off before his father's people found him at the hospital. I also wish Elijah had paid for what he'd done, not only to Luke, Dee, and Mike, but also for everyone else he's inflicted suffering on throughout the years. I just feel that the ending didn't bring about a lot of clarity and I wouldn't mind a sequel. Regardless, with lucid writing and a creepy plot, Creed was an interesting read overall.
October 31, 2014
Well. I can't say that I liked this book, because that would imply that I didn't want to run screaming from it. And let me assure you, I did want to run. Because holy crap, this book was messed up. Obviously, there is a reason I am saving this review for Halloween, because this is the perfect Halloween book.
When Dee, Luke, and Mike got stranded and end up in Purity Springs, honestly I wanted to yell and scream at them. Seriously guys, take a long walk, a jog, camp in the damn woods, but do not stay in this creepy hellhole! I mean, I get why they do, it is kind of human nature to seek shelter and other people when you are lost, cold, and alone. But obviously, the reader knows it's going to be bad news from the start.
So, cults. Cults fascinate me endlessly. I could watch Investigation Discovery shows about cults all day. So finding out this book had a cult aspect was quite appealing to me. It isn't just straight up horror or gore, it has an intriguing psychological element to it as well. When we are introduced to Elijah (who seriously may be the most heinous, disgusting villain I have read about to date), there is absolutely no question as to why these people don't ever defy him.
I don't want to give too much about the plot away obviously, but there were a ton of twists and turns that I absolutely did not see coming. And the atmosphere in this book was so bleak, I could just feel it. I needed to watch a few episodes of "Friends" when I was finished with Creed just to fall asleep. The authors painted a very vivid picture of Purity Springs, and it certainly wasn't pleasant. Creed was also an incredibly fast-paced book, very easy to devour in one sitting, because I needed answers.
As for the characters, Dee was just so broken to begin with that her circumstances became overwhelmingly tragic. Mike and Luke didn't leave a huge impression on me, but just their misfortune of stumbling upon this place made them sympathetic. As for Joseph, I never knew what to make of him. I kind of felt that it was more fitting that way, since he grew up around such vile behavior, how could he be anything but a mess? I didn't really feel a huge connection to any of the characters, even Dee, but I did feel for them.
Creed is definitely the most horrifying book I have read in a long time, and quite possibly ever. The dismal atmosphere was palpable, and for better or worse, I was sucked into this world completely. If you like to be thoroughly creeped out and disturbed, then you've found the right book.
Copy provided from publisher for review via Netgalley**
This review was originally posted on It Starts at Midnight
When Dee, Luke, and Mike got stranded and end up in Purity Springs, honestly I wanted to yell and scream at them. Seriously guys, take a long walk, a jog, camp in the damn woods, but do not stay in this creepy hellhole! I mean, I get why they do, it is kind of human nature to seek shelter and other people when you are lost, cold, and alone. But obviously, the reader knows it's going to be bad news from the start.
So, cults. Cults fascinate me endlessly. I could watch Investigation Discovery shows about cults all day. So finding out this book had a cult aspect was quite appealing to me. It isn't just straight up horror or gore, it has an intriguing psychological element to it as well. When we are introduced to Elijah (who seriously may be the most heinous, disgusting villain I have read about to date), there is absolutely no question as to why these people don't ever defy him.
I don't want to give too much about the plot away obviously, but there were a ton of twists and turns that I absolutely did not see coming. And the atmosphere in this book was so bleak, I could just feel it. I needed to watch a few episodes of "Friends" when I was finished with Creed just to fall asleep. The authors painted a very vivid picture of Purity Springs, and it certainly wasn't pleasant. Creed was also an incredibly fast-paced book, very easy to devour in one sitting, because I needed answers.
As for the characters, Dee was just so broken to begin with that her circumstances became overwhelmingly tragic. Mike and Luke didn't leave a huge impression on me, but just their misfortune of stumbling upon this place made them sympathetic. As for Joseph, I never knew what to make of him. I kind of felt that it was more fitting that way, since he grew up around such vile behavior, how could he be anything but a mess? I didn't really feel a huge connection to any of the characters, even Dee, but I did feel for them.
Creed is definitely the most horrifying book I have read in a long time, and quite possibly ever. The dismal atmosphere was palpable, and for better or worse, I was sucked into this world completely. If you like to be thoroughly creeped out and disturbed, then you've found the right book.
Copy provided from publisher for review via Netgalley**
This review was originally posted on It Starts at Midnight
August 21, 2014
Rating: 4.5 STARS
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of CREED through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. CREED originally sparked my interest when it appeared on the Pub Hub blog a while back.
The first three lines of the book blurb for this Young Adult Horror novel are what captured my attention: “Three went in. Three came out. Not even a shadow of who they once were.” Well-written and fast-paced, we find out the consequences of what three teenagers forgetting to fill up their gas tank could be. The one word that comes to mind for this psychological horror story is “believable,” and that’s what makes this story so scary. If anything, it could easily have been a “ripped from the headlines plot.” Elijah Hawkins and Purity Springs reminded me of real-life eighteen shades of crazy, Warren Jeffs and the FDLS Church, and how they controlled and abused their followers.
Leaver and Currie do an expert job of not insulting the readers intelligence, and giving their characters enough of their own. There aren’t any “too stupid to live” moments typically associated with teenage horror where we want to cover our eyes. Instead, as we watch Dee, Luke, and Mike, we understand how they ended up where they are, yet we, as the readers, are left powerless to offer them a better alternative: sit in a car freezing to death miles from the highway, or stick together and find help. We root for them every step of the way.
The characters are real and well-drawn, but my favorite is Joseph, the damaged and desperate son of Elijah. Although the reader is meant to doubt if he can truly be trusted, I could see him through Dee’s eyes. Finding her a credible narrator, he had my trust throughout, his actions supporting his stated motivations. Had he not been true to his word, things would’ve turned out much differently.
Very well done, CREED delivered on giving the horror it promised. A nice change of pace from all the YA paranormal I’ve been reading. The only thing that I wish had been different was the outcome.
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of CREED through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. CREED originally sparked my interest when it appeared on the Pub Hub blog a while back.
The first three lines of the book blurb for this Young Adult Horror novel are what captured my attention: “Three went in. Three came out. Not even a shadow of who they once were.” Well-written and fast-paced, we find out the consequences of what three teenagers forgetting to fill up their gas tank could be. The one word that comes to mind for this psychological horror story is “believable,” and that’s what makes this story so scary. If anything, it could easily have been a “ripped from the headlines plot.” Elijah Hawkins and Purity Springs reminded me of real-life eighteen shades of crazy, Warren Jeffs and the FDLS Church, and how they controlled and abused their followers.
Leaver and Currie do an expert job of not insulting the readers intelligence, and giving their characters enough of their own. There aren’t any “too stupid to live” moments typically associated with teenage horror where we want to cover our eyes. Instead, as we watch Dee, Luke, and Mike, we understand how they ended up where they are, yet we, as the readers, are left powerless to offer them a better alternative: sit in a car freezing to death miles from the highway, or stick together and find help. We root for them every step of the way.
The characters are real and well-drawn, but my favorite is Joseph, the damaged and desperate son of Elijah. Although the reader is meant to doubt if he can truly be trusted, I could see him through Dee’s eyes. Finding her a credible narrator, he had my trust throughout, his actions supporting his stated motivations. Had he not been true to his word, things would’ve turned out much differently.
Very well done, CREED delivered on giving the horror it promised. A nice change of pace from all the YA paranormal I’ve been reading. The only thing that I wish had been different was the outcome.
August 6, 2014
I tried to remember the last time a book frustrated me this much - and I got nothing. So many things about this book bothered me.
First, the idea is great and, after the cover, the book description immediately caught my attention. Three teenagers stranded, abandoned town, half eaten dinners still on the table, cars left at the gas station - a high creep factor right away. This was the perfect eerie setting to drop the characters into. I had high hopes for this book.
Soon after that, I realized there was no way to connect with the characters. None were really likeable and after the horrifying experience Dee had survived previously, I would have expected her to be a stronger person and grew tired of her being paralyzed by fear page after page. She seemed incapable of dealing with anything on her own and I found that disappointing. Not that it's uncommon in horror stories or movies, but none of the characters were able to make rational, adult decisions.
The explanations for Joseph not trying to escape sooner (especially since he had 50 pounds and several inches on his father) just weren't credible to me. I'm all for suspending disbelief in some stories, but the circumstances in this book shouldn't have required me to do that. The ending wasn't plausible, leaving too much unfinished - I even wondered if I was missing some pages - and, as I mentioned earlier, leaving me frustrated.
This novel started with a strong idea, ideal setting, some disturbing elements, and had a seriously deranged antagonist, but the characters couldn't close the deal for me.
This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.
First, the idea is great and, after the cover, the book description immediately caught my attention. Three teenagers stranded, abandoned town, half eaten dinners still on the table, cars left at the gas station - a high creep factor right away. This was the perfect eerie setting to drop the characters into. I had high hopes for this book.
Soon after that, I realized there was no way to connect with the characters. None were really likeable and after the horrifying experience Dee had survived previously, I would have expected her to be a stronger person and grew tired of her being paralyzed by fear page after page. She seemed incapable of dealing with anything on her own and I found that disappointing. Not that it's uncommon in horror stories or movies, but none of the characters were able to make rational, adult decisions.
The explanations for Joseph not trying to escape sooner (especially since he had 50 pounds and several inches on his father) just weren't credible to me. I'm all for suspending disbelief in some stories, but the circumstances in this book shouldn't have required me to do that. The ending wasn't plausible, leaving too much unfinished - I even wondered if I was missing some pages - and, as I mentioned earlier, leaving me frustrated.
This novel started with a strong idea, ideal setting, some disturbing elements, and had a seriously deranged antagonist, but the characters couldn't close the deal for me.
This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.
February 12, 2016
I received this free from the publishers via NetGalley
Dee, Luke and Mike are on there way to a concert, but on the way a winter storm and a broken down car forces the three into a town called Purity Springs. The town is deserted and isn't what it seems. The next morning the towns inhabitants appear and Dee, Luke and Mike are chased and captured. The towns charismatic leader has them trapped and he intends to make Dee his new wife.
I went into Creed really exited because I wanted something creepy for my halloween read. Unfortunately I felt really let down by Creed. To me, it wasn't all that creepy. The characters at time seemed smart, but then other times, they seemed really silly and stupid. You come into a town that is deserted, everything is identical and there are some creepy documents lying around and you decide to stay the night instead of getting the hell out of there?
The story seemed unoriginal and uninteresting. You knew what was going to happen, and there weren't any shocking twists. It just didn't feel like anything special and it was very predictable. It may interest some people, but it just didn't do anything for me, which is sad because this book had so much potential and promise but it failed to deliver.
The characters also felt underdeveloped and flat. There weren't much there and there weren't much chemistry between the characters. I'm not really sure what it was but I just didn't really care for them at all.
Overall, not a read I would personally recommend, but if the book caught your attention, maybe try giving it a go for yourself.
Dee, Luke and Mike are on there way to a concert, but on the way a winter storm and a broken down car forces the three into a town called Purity Springs. The town is deserted and isn't what it seems. The next morning the towns inhabitants appear and Dee, Luke and Mike are chased and captured. The towns charismatic leader has them trapped and he intends to make Dee his new wife.
I went into Creed really exited because I wanted something creepy for my halloween read. Unfortunately I felt really let down by Creed. To me, it wasn't all that creepy. The characters at time seemed smart, but then other times, they seemed really silly and stupid. You come into a town that is deserted, everything is identical and there are some creepy documents lying around and you decide to stay the night instead of getting the hell out of there?
The story seemed unoriginal and uninteresting. You knew what was going to happen, and there weren't any shocking twists. It just didn't feel like anything special and it was very predictable. It may interest some people, but it just didn't do anything for me, which is sad because this book had so much potential and promise but it failed to deliver.
The characters also felt underdeveloped and flat. There weren't much there and there weren't much chemistry between the characters. I'm not really sure what it was but I just didn't really care for them at all.
Overall, not a read I would personally recommend, but if the book caught your attention, maybe try giving it a go for yourself.
June 4, 2015
I want to thank NetGalley and Flux publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
This book scared the crap out of me. I am not usually squeamish, but when it comes to actual people doing evil deeds that pretty much makes me shake in my boots.
Dee and her boyfriend Luke, along with his younger brother Mike are on a weekend getaway. While trying to get to their destination, the car runs out of gas and the trio have to hike to the nearest town for help. This town just so happens to be completely empty...or so they thought.
That right there is enough to start creepy thoughts going. This is a bible loving town. A town run by a man Elijah who believes himself to be the next prophet.
I won't say more about the book, but this. Religious fanatics scare me more than monsters or demons or even serial killers and here's why. They believe it is RIGHT. That God will justify the crime as a wonderful sacrifice. Their is no arguing with these kinds of people they are INSANE. Then you think of the word insanity. What is insane? Because the definition of insane is a state of mind that prevents normal perception. And what is normal? With that being said...if you truly believe in what you say and do are normal and righteous than both parties are insane.
Scary scary book definitely check it out.
This book scared the crap out of me. I am not usually squeamish, but when it comes to actual people doing evil deeds that pretty much makes me shake in my boots.
Dee and her boyfriend Luke, along with his younger brother Mike are on a weekend getaway. While trying to get to their destination, the car runs out of gas and the trio have to hike to the nearest town for help. This town just so happens to be completely empty...or so they thought.
That right there is enough to start creepy thoughts going. This is a bible loving town. A town run by a man Elijah who believes himself to be the next prophet.
I won't say more about the book, but this. Religious fanatics scare me more than monsters or demons or even serial killers and here's why. They believe it is RIGHT. That God will justify the crime as a wonderful sacrifice. Their is no arguing with these kinds of people they are INSANE. Then you think of the word insanity. What is insane? Because the definition of insane is a state of mind that prevents normal perception. And what is normal? With that being said...if you truly believe in what you say and do are normal and righteous than both parties are insane.
Scary scary book definitely check it out.
November 14, 2014
This book was written by two authors I've never heard of. I jumped into this book expecting to be terrified. Instead what I got was a gripping read that had me sitting all afternoon glued to the story.
Three people go in. Three people come out. Dee, her boyfriend Luke and his brother Mike find themselves stranded in Purity Springs. What happens while they are there will have you sitting at the edge of your seat. They unfortunately meet Elijah who is a real sicko. He stands up for what he believes in however wrong them beliefs may be. My feelings for Elijahs son Joseph changed throughout the story.
The ending left me slightly dropping my jaw but as I sit here thinking about it I can't think of any other way it could have ended.
I'm giving this book 5 stars. To get a 5 star from me the book has to grip me, to leave me thinking about the story and also to look into what other books the author has written. This book has done all these. Really hope these authors are getting their heads together for another gripping read.
Three people go in. Three people come out. Dee, her boyfriend Luke and his brother Mike find themselves stranded in Purity Springs. What happens while they are there will have you sitting at the edge of your seat. They unfortunately meet Elijah who is a real sicko. He stands up for what he believes in however wrong them beliefs may be. My feelings for Elijahs son Joseph changed throughout the story.
The ending left me slightly dropping my jaw but as I sit here thinking about it I can't think of any other way it could have ended.
I'm giving this book 5 stars. To get a 5 star from me the book has to grip me, to leave me thinking about the story and also to look into what other books the author has written. This book has done all these. Really hope these authors are getting their heads together for another gripping read.
October 20, 2014
Received an ARC from Netgalley.
What happens in Purity Springs stays in Purity Springs. Dee has the perfect surprise weekend for planned for her boyfriend, but this road trip quickly turns into a nightmare when the teens' car runs out of gas on a desolate rural road. Dee, Luke and Luke's brother, Mike, hike to the small town of Purity Springs in search of gas and find the town eerily empty while an emergency siren wails in the distance. However, they are being watched and they soon discover the sinister evil that lurks beneath the surface of the small town. A religious cult led by the fanatical and crazy Elijah Hawkins has plans for them. Assisted by Elijah's son, Joseph, they plan their escape, but will they make it out of Purity Springs alive?
This book was a page turning helluva ride! Elijah Hawkins one scary, bad ass cult leader. Violence, gore and lots of blood make this a YA book not for the faint of heart.
What happens in Purity Springs stays in Purity Springs. Dee has the perfect surprise weekend for planned for her boyfriend, but this road trip quickly turns into a nightmare when the teens' car runs out of gas on a desolate rural road. Dee, Luke and Luke's brother, Mike, hike to the small town of Purity Springs in search of gas and find the town eerily empty while an emergency siren wails in the distance. However, they are being watched and they soon discover the sinister evil that lurks beneath the surface of the small town. A religious cult led by the fanatical and crazy Elijah Hawkins has plans for them. Assisted by Elijah's son, Joseph, they plan their escape, but will they make it out of Purity Springs alive?
This book was a page turning helluva ride! Elijah Hawkins one scary, bad ass cult leader. Violence, gore and lots of blood make this a YA book not for the faint of heart.
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